Toy fireplace



July 5, 1932. FANCHER 1,866,155

TOY FIREPLACE Filed June 25. 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 gfireplace;

Patented July 5, 1932 UNITED STATES HOWARD M. FANCHER, OF ROCHESTER, NEW YORK, .ASSIGNOR TO THE ROCHEQTER PATENT OFFICE '9 FOLDING BOX 00., or ROCHESTER, NEW YORK, AconroRn'rIon or nnwionx TOY FIREPLACE Application filed June 23,

This invention relates to toy fireplaces, and particularly to those adapted to be collapsed to provide a compact package suitable for storing or shipping.

One object of the invention is the provision of such a toy fireplace, which, when erected, is of suiiicient size to provide a realistic structure, and when collapsed, forms a small, light, compact packagesuitable for storing or shipping. I

Another object is the provision of a structure of this kind which is light and easy to handle, and which may be easily and quickly erected, yet when erected is securely held against accidental collapse, but, which may be readily collapsed into a compact article when desired.

A further object is the provision ofa fireplace of this class which is more realistic "in appearance, easier to assemble, and which is collapsible intoa smaller package than. the

various types of toy fireplaces now available.

To these and other ends the inventionresides in certain improvements and combinations of parts, all as will be hereinafter more, fully described, the novel features vbeing pointed out in the. claims at the end of the specification.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a toy fireplace constructed in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 2 is an elevation view of the blank which forms the body portion of the Fig. 3 is a perspective view ofthe body portion in erected position;

Fig. 4 is a horizontal sectional view taken through the fireplace opening of the body portion illustrated in Fig. 3, showing the erected arrangement of the various members F 1g. 5 is a horlzontalsectlonal view taken on a line just abovethe fireplace opening of i the body portion shown in Fig. '3, showing the position of the various partscomprising the body portion when the latter is partially collapsed; r e V Fig. 6 is a side elevation of the body portion in the completely collapsed condition;

Fig. 7 is anhorizontal sectionalview taken the usual brick portion of a fireplace.

suitable decorations, such,for example, as a i 1931, SerialNo. 546,309. I

substantially on the line 'l-7 of Fig. 6, show-- ing the relation of the various parts of the body portion when the latter is in thecollapsed conditionas shown in Fig. 6;

Fig. 8 is a perspective view ofthe mantel.

in the erected position;

Fig. 9 is a perspective View of one of the detachable end members for holding the mantel in erected position, and v Fig. 10 is a transverse sectionalviewof the upper part of the complete fireplace illus{ trated in Fig. 1, showing the means f or.securing the mantel to the body portion.

Similar reference numerals throughout the several views indicate the same parts. The present inventlon is embodied, in the present instance by way of illustration, in a new and improved toy-fireplace which comprises, in general, a wallor body portion 15," and a tubular mantel lfisuitably securedto the body portion to permit the entire unit to be readily movedfrom placeto place. These or I members are detachable from each other, and

The body portion 15 is preferably madev froma single piece ofcardboard, orother similar material, scored and folded on the corner lines 20 to provide a front wall 21, and integral side walls 22 which are bent at right angles to the front wall when the body portion is in erected position, as illustrated in Fig. 3. The outer surfaces of these wall members may be suitably decorated so that when in the erected position they represent Other Christmas wreath25 may also be provided, if

desired. p The front wall 21 isprovided with the usual fireplace opening 30 preferably formed by turning rearwardly from the front wall thetwo flaps 31 and 32 to the free ends 33- and 3 1 ofwhich a back 35 is secur'ed'in any mantel, it is desirable that means be provided like connections between the two flaps and the back. 1 These flaps and the back may also be suitably decorated to represent the usual brick work construction. The flaps 31 and 32 are preferably formed by means of an intermediate vertical slit 38 which provides the free ends 33 and 3%, a horizontal slit 39, and vertical score lines 40. The adhesive strips 36 and the score lines 40 provide hingelike portionswhich permit thefiaps and back to be erected to form the side'and rear walls of the fireplace opening, or to be collapsed substantially into the plane of the front wall.

The front wall.21 is also preferably pro-., vided with a central score line 42 extending upwardly from the fireplace opening 30, and in alignment with the intermediate slit 38, as readily seen upon an inspection of Fig. 2. This score line 42 andthe slit 38 divide the front wall into two equal sections, and form in effect a continuous hinge joint connecting the two sections, and permittingthem to be folded on each other when the body portion is collapsed, in a manner hereafter described.

In order to secure the mantel 16, hereinafter described, to the above mentioned body portion, the latter is provided with a plurality of upwardly extending tabs 45' which project through registering slits in the mantel bottom. These tabs provide a means for retaining the front wall 21 and the side walls 22 in proper relative position, and also means for securing the mantel in place on the body portion, yet permitting the mantel to be easily and readily removed when desired.

The mantel 16 is preferably constructed to provide a tubular structure, and is formed from one piece of heavy cardboard, or the like, scored and folded on the corner lines 50 to provide, when erected, a hollow rectangular member having a top 51, a bottom 52, and

sides 53, the free edges being joined in any suitable manner. When not in use, the mantel may be collapsed, by reason of the "corner hinges 50, substantially into a plane. The bottom 52, as stated, is provided with a plurality of slits 55 through which the tabs 45 extend, as illustrated in Fig.10.

To provide a structure realistic in appear fiance, the mantel 16 is preferably made larger than the body portion to provide extensions 60 and 61 which project beyond the side walls 22 and the front wall 21 respectively, as clearly illustrated in Figs. 1 and 10. The mantel may also be decorated to represent the usual wood construction, or it may be provided with an appropriate holiday scene, such, for example, as theChristmas scene shown at 65, Fig. 1.

Because of the collapsible nature of th for retaining the mantel in the erectedposition. To this end, the present invention provides suitable retaining means, preferably in the form of detachable end closure members which are disposed within and at the endsof the opening of the hollow mantel to retain the latter in erected position, and are remov able therefrom to permit collapsing in the manner heretofore described. These end members are preferably formed from a single piece of cardboard scored and folded on the parallel lines 71 to provide a flat portion 72 and marginal flange portions 7 3 of generally channel or U-shape. The portion 72 is substantially the same size as the'opening in the mantel so that when placed therein it provides a suitable end for the mantel and also holdsthe latter in erected position, the flange 73 being positioned against the top 51 and bottom 52 to retain the portion 72 in proper vertical position. While the drawings show only one such end member, it is to be understood that two such members are provided to form the two ends of the mantel.

lVhen not in use, the above described fireplace may be dismantled and collapsed to form a neat, light compact package in a manner to be presently described. The mantel 16 is first removed from the body portion by lifting it vertically relative thereto until the tabs 45 are completely withdrawn from the slits 55. The end members 70 are then withdrawn, and the-mantel may be collapsed, by reasonof the hinge corners 50,substantia1ly into a plane, the end members 70 being subsequently flattened into the plane of the poi--- tion 7 2.

After the mantel has been removed, in the manner above described, the body portion then appears as illustrated in Fig. 3. Byreason of the hinge joints 33 and 34 and the link-' like side members 31 and 32 which are hinged-. ly connected tothe front wall at 40, the back- 35 may be moved relative to, and toward the front wall to collapse the flaps'3l and 32 and the back 35 substantially into the plane of the front wall. When so collapsed, one of the flaps or sides is folded substantially into the plane of the front wall while the other fiap is folded to lie against the back of the front wall in the space between the score lines 20 andtO. Fig. 5 shows the relation of these members after being collapsed by moving the member 35 to the left. If, however, the member 35 is moved to the right the position of the members will be just the reverse of that shown in Fig. 5. After the sides 31 and 32 and the back 35 have been collapsed, the side walls 22 are then preferably folded inwardly so that one will lie against the back 35, while the other will lie against the rear of the front, wall, as shown in Fig. 5, so that the permits the two halves of the front wall to be folded backwardly on each other in a manner illustrated in Figs. 6 and 7. This construction enables the entire body portion to be collapsed substantially into a plane and further reduced in size by folding on itself, as illustrated in Fig. 7. As stated, the entire mantel structure may likewise be collapsed substantially into a plane, and assembled with the collapsed wall portion so as to form a flat package having a length equal to the length of the mantel, and a width equal toone-half the width of the front wall 21. This compactness is provided in a toy fireplace in which all of the members constituting the body portion are secured together in proper relation to each other so that the entire body portion may be easily and quickly erected merely by unfolding.

It will be apparent from the foregoing description that the present invention provides a very realistic fireplace particularly applicable for use in apartments or homes not provided with a real fireplace. A structure, such as described, may be readily erected and positioned against the wall in the position of a real fireplace, and thus provides a very pleasing and attractive structure. It is particularly useful at Christmas time in that it provides a suitable chimney structure on which the childrencan hang their stockings for the anticipated descent of Santa Claus. l/Vhen the holiday season is over, the structure may be quicklyqand easily dismantled and folded into a compact package, in which form it is stored until the following Christmas when it may be again erected in the manner described.

I claim:

1. A toy fireplace comprising a collapsible body portion formed to provide a front wall and side walls, said front wall having a score line intermediate said side walls, said score line permitting said front wall to be folded on itself, a collapsible tubular mantel associated with said body portion, and means connecting said mantel and said body portion for securing said mantel in position on said body and for retaining said front and side walls in erected position.

2. A toy fireplace comprising a collapsible body portion formed to provide a front wall and side walls, said front wall having a fireplace opening, parts hingedly secured to said front wall and extending rearwardly therefrom to form sides for said fireplaceopening, a back for said opening secured to said parts and collapsible therewith substantially into the plane of said front wall, and a collapsile tubular mantel disposed on said body portion and connected therewith to hold said body body portion in erected position.

3. In a toy fireplace, the combination of a collapsible body portion comprising a front wall and folding side walls, upwardly extendingtabs on saidfront and side walls, and a collapsible tubular mantel mounted on said body portion and provided with openings to receive-said tabs interiorly thereof to retain said wall portion in erected position.

4-. Ina toy fireplace, the combination of a collapsible body portion comprising a front 7 wall and folding side walls, upwardly extending tabs on said front and side walls, a collapsible tubular mantel mounted on said body portion andprovided with openings to receivesaid-tabs interiorly thereof to retain I said wall portion in erected position, and de-- tion, and means in the form of U-shaped mem- I bers associated with the mantel to concomitantly close the endsthereof and to retain said mantel in erected position, said members being removable from said mantel to permit the latter to be collapsed substantially into a plane. V

G. A toy fireplace comprising in combination 'a collapsible 'body portion formed to provide [a front wall and side walls, said front ,wallhaving a joint intermediate said side walls, parts hingedly connected to said front wallandeXtending rearwardly therefrom to form sides of a fireplace opening, a

back for said openinghingedly secured to 1 said parts and collapsible therewith substan; tially into the plane of the front wall, the distance between-said front wall and said back being substantially equal to the distance between said joint and said first mentioned hinged connections so that when said back and said parts are collapsed one of the'hinged connections therebetween is adapted to be brought substantially into alinement with said joint to permit said front wall to be folded on itself, a collapsible tubular mantel mounted on said body portion and connected theretoto hold said body portion in erected position, and detachable members for concomitantly closing the ends of said mantel and for retaining the latter in erected position. 7

7. In a toy fireplace, the combination of a collapsible body portion formed to provide a front wall and side walls, upwardly extendposition, and detachable end members for concomitantly closing the end of said mantel and for retaining the latter in erected position,

said members being removable to permit said mantel to be collapsed substantially into a plane.

8. A toy fireplace comprising a collapsible body portion formed to provide a front wall and side walls, said front wall having a fireplace opening and a score line extending upwardly from said opening intermediate said side walls, parts hingedly connected to said front wall and extending rearwardly therefrom to form sides for said opening, a back for said opening hingedly secured to said parts, said parts and said back being collapsible as a unit substantially into the plane of said front wall, the distance between said front wall and said back being substantially equal to the distance between said score line and said first mentioned hinged connections so that when said back and said parts are collapsed one of the hinged connections therebetween is-adapted to be brought substantially into alignment with said score line to permit said front wall to be folded on itself, upwardly extending tabs on said front and side Walls, a' rectangular tubular mantel formed to provide a top, bottom, and side members,

said bottom being provided with a plurality of slits in registry with said tabs and cooperating with the latter to provide means for maintaining the mantel in proper position on the body and for retaining the wall portions in erected position,"and detachable end members associated with said mantel to retain the latter in erected position, said endmembers being removable to permit said mantel to be collapsed substantially into a plane. 7 HOW'ARD M. FANGHER. 

